Law School Commencement

Commencement is a ceremony to celebrate, honor and recognize our graduates who have completed the requirements of the Master of Laws Degree, Juris Doctor, or Master of Studies in Law. The Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) degree prepares students for leadership roles in the global legal market. The Master of Laws is an internationally recognized postgraduate law degree. It is designed for international attorneys who are interested in receiving a degree in American law and the U.S. legal system. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) is the first earned law degree with two to three years of post-baccalaureate study. The Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) is designed primarily for students who have already established a career in a profession where they will benefit from having an additional background in legal studies.

The University has commencement celebrations at the end of the fall and spring semesters (December and May). Students completing degree requirements during the summer term will participate in spring commencement. Students planning to participate in their commencement ceremony must submit their application for Master of Laws Degree, Juris Doctor Degree, or Master of Studies in Law Degree to Cory Payne, the Student Records Administrator in Room 104E by the deadline for the semester they plan to graduate:

Fall - Last business day of March
Spring & Summer
- Last business day of October

Commencement Ceremony Dates

Spring

Fall

Saturday, May 11, 2024  

 


Questions

Law students or family members with questions regarding Law School graduation events should contact:

If you have questions about whether you have completed all requirements for graduation in May, you should contact:


Short URL for this page:
https://washburnlaw.edu/commencement

Transcripts
Bar Exam
  • Bar Exam Preparation.
  • Certification forms to take the bar exam in states other than Kansas should be turned in to Cory Payne in Room 104E.
  • Copies of your law school application can be requested from Cory Payne in Room 104E.
3L Information Meeting

Each fall and spring semester law school staff host a meeting for graduating law students to update them about requirements for graduation, commencement, and the bar exam. Below are links to the meeting handouts.

Watch video from spring 2023 meeting (55:54).

Watch December 15, 2023 commencement on YouTube.

Graduation Requirements
Graduation Checklist
  • J.D. (100 KB PDF)
  • M.S.L

Upper Level Certification Forms:

Stoles and Cords

Stoles and cords may be worn by law graduates during commencement excercises in accordance with established policy.

Place your stole over your robe first.

Cords are placed on top of the stole. If the cord is multi-strand, the knot should be placed in the center of the back of your neck with the tassel ends even in front. A safety pin to secure your cord or stole can be obtained from Kerrie Bacon in the commons. Secure your cords/stole ONLY to your robe (don't pin all the way through your shirt/jacket/collar because you will have an issue as soon as you sit down).